Ciba-geigy Corporation

Novartis Finance Corporation

The United States of America As Represented by the United States

James M Ligon

Stephen T Lam

Dwight Steven Hill

Philip E Hammer

John A Ryals

Thomas Schupp

James Joseph Beck

Thomas D Gaffney

Scott Joseph Uknes

Jeffrey I Stein

Charles R Howell

Snezana Neff

J Ole Becker

The present invention is directed to the production of an antipathogenic substance (APS) in a host via recombinant expression of the polypeptides needed to biologically synthesize the APS. Genes encoding polypeptides necessary to produce particular antipathogenic substances are provided, along with methods for identifying and isolating genes needed to recombinantly biosynthesize any desired APS. The cloned genes may be transformed and expressed in a desired host organisms to produce the APS according to the invention for a variety of purposes, including protecting the host from a pathogen, developing the host as a biocontrol agent, and producing large, uniform amounts of the APS.

Pyrrolnitrin biosynthesis genes

Gene activating sequences which activate the expression of other bacterial genes, which are latent or expressed at low levels, are provided. The gene activating sequences confer the ability to produce several metabolites and may be transferred to bacterial strains. The transformed biocontrol agents are active to inhibit the growth of the fungal pathogens.

Genomic DNA encoding a Pseudomonas global transcriptional activation

Method of protecting plants by transformation with genes for the

DNA sequences involved in soraphen biosynthesis by myxobacteria

Genomic DNA encoding a pseudomonas global transcriptional activation

Genes for the synthesis of antipathogenic substances

Genes for the synthesis of antipathogenic substance

DNA sequences from the Internal Transcribed Spacer of the ribosomal RNA gene region are described for different species and strains of Septoria, Pseudocercosporella and Mycosphaerella. Specific primers from within these sequences are identified as being useful for the identification of the fungal isolates using PCR-based techniques.

Detection of fungal pathogens using the polymerase chain reaction

Purified bacterial strains that are effective for the inhibition of plant pathogens, including the fungi Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium ultimum have been isolated. These strains are useful as biocontrol agents, and can be used to produce antifungal metabolites, such as antibiotic compounds, active against the plant pathogenic fungi Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium ultimum. Both the purified bacterial strains and the antibiotic compounds can be used as active agents for biocontrol compositions.

Anti-pathogenic bacterial strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens

Growing community of inventors

Basel, Switzerland

James M Ligon